Management
education in India received a major boost post 1991 thanks to the liberal economic
policy changes by the Indian government. What followed was the growth of numerous
management colleges across the country thereby allowing more students to avail of
management education. Admission to a number of these institutes including the IIMs
required taking the Common Admission Test (CAT), whereby a good score would ensure
short listing amongst the best colleges.

The CAT is considered to be amongst the most competitive
tests as numerous aspirants take it in perusal of their dream colleges. The test
is taken once ever year in an online mode during October-November, its duration
is 140 minutes with aspirants attempting 60 questions in two sections. The marking
scheme allots 3 marks for each correct answer and a negative mark for an incorrect
answer in the test.Amongst the premium institutes that accept the CAT scores include
the IIMs:-
1. IIM Ahmedabad.
2. IIM Bangalore.
3. IIM Calcutta.
4. IIM Ranchi.
5. IIM Raipur.
6. IIM Rohtak.
7. IIM Udaipur.
8. IIM Shillong.
9. IIM Trichy.
10. IIM Kanpur.
11. IIM Kozhikode.
12. IIM Lucknow.
13. IIM Indore.Also other recommended B-schools like:
1. MDI gurgaon.
2. S.P Jain
3. IIT Delhi.
4. NITIE-Mumbai.
5. SJSOM-IIT Bombay.
6. VGSOM - IIT Kharagpur.
7. BIM-Trichy.
8. IIT -Kanpur.
9. IIT-Madras.
10. IIT-Roorkee.
11. FORE-Delhi.
12. IMT-Ghaziabad.
13. IMI-Delhi.
For taking the CAT the aspirant has to complete certain
basic criteria fulfilling of which would deem him/her eligible for the test. These
include holding of a Bachelor’s Degree with at least 50% marks or equivalent
CGPA awarded by any of the established universities in India. Candidates in the
final year of their graduation are also eligible for the CAT.Important dates that the candidate has to keep in mind
with regards to the CAT are:CAT registration - 5th August – 26th September,
2013Test Window - 16th October 11th November 2013CAT Results - 14th January 2014
For more details on the Registration process, please visit: www.cat2013.iimidr.ac.in
One has to keep in mind that the merely taking the CAT does not signify admit into
the IIMs. Each of the 13 IIMs has a selection criterion that is independent of each
other while selecting students into its program; it includes processes like written
admission tests (WAT), Group Discussions and Personal Interviews.
Performance in the CAT is an important component in the selection; IIMs may also
include the previous academic performance, relevant work experience and other similar
inputs in short listing and ranking of candidates at various stages of the admission
process. For more information you may refer the admissions policies of IIMs from
their respective websites as well as our website www.imsindia.com